I Am an American: a True Story of Japanese Internment: (Ala Notable Children's Book, Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book) (American History Classics) Teacher Directed
I did not mean to introduce my children to the history of Japanese Americans and the internment camps at so young an age. It was an accident. I was reading a book aloud to my children without previewing it myself first because I was on deadline and had to write a review of it that night. Don’t ever do this. Then I turned a page, and there was a picture of fair-haired American soldiers pointing rifles at a room full of people that looked like us. My children, only two and three years old at the time, were frightened and confused. Oops. Like I said, don’t ever do it this way.
On the positive side, since they were introduced to it at such a young age, they have always known about it. I never had to steel myself for "The Talk" to explain it to them. Given the choice, I am sure I would have put it off for as long as I could, maybe even forever. I certainly understand now why many of the Issei and Nisei who lived in the camps did not tell the Sansei and Yonsei generations—something I did not understand at all before I had children and had to explain it myself.
Luckily there are now many wonderful books to make this difficult story a little easier to explain. Some of these have been included in my earlier reviews of picture books about growing up Asian American, but some were fresh, recent discoveries for me approaching the February 19 Day of Remembrance. Two titles, by the wonderful JA author Ken Mochizuki, are not about internment, but nonetheless feature nikkei characters thoughtfully and movingly portrayed against a backdrop of war. All are worthy readings that sensitively broach tough but important themes of discrimination and friendship, war and courage, injustice and reconciliation. In this sense, all can be enriching and relevant for parents and kids of any background, in any era. -- Frances The Bracelet
By Yoshiko Uchida, Illustrated by Joanna Yardley
Putnam & Grosset Group, New York, 1976, 1993, 1996
ISBN Number: 0-698-11390-X
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Just before seven year old Emi leaves home for the internment camps with her family, her best friend Laurie Madison comes to say goodbye and give her a bracelet. Emi puts it on immediately and promises never to take it off. However, in the course of going to the check-in center, taking the bus to Tanforan Racetracks, and settling into the horse stall that is to be their home until they go another camp in the Utah desert, Emi loses the bracelet, the one thing that would help her remember her best friend. Then she realizes that she can remember those she carries in her heart without things like photos or bracelets. A story of friendship which gently introduces the history of the Japanese American internment camps. Also by Yoshiko Uchida (Donald Carrick, illustrator): Journey to Topaz.
Flowers from Mariko
By R. Noguchi & D. Jenks, Illustrated by M. Reiko Kumata
ISBN Number: 1584300329
Mariko's family has been freed from a Japanese-American internment camp, but the transition hasn't been easy. Because her father's truck has disappeared, he can't start up his gardening business, and the family must move to a trailer park. One day, Mariko's father gives her two seed envelopes. She plants the seeds and even serenades them. However, Mariko's father is so preoccupied that he doesn't notice her garden—until he hears her singing. At last he smiles. Flowers from Mariko tells of a family striving to re-establish their lives—through hope, perseverance, and love.
Baseball Saved Us
By Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee
ISBN Number: 1880000199
Baseball Saved Us
In a desert landscape surrounded by barbed wire and guards with guns, Japanese Americans set out to build a baseball field in their internment camp. Told by a young boy, this narrative displays the strength of a group of people having to endure injustice and degradation. Baseball provides the source of strength with everyone working to make uniforms and clear the field. Awards: Parents’ Choice Award, Publishers Weekly Best Multicultural Title, Lee and Low Books Award Winner.
Heroes
By Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee
ISBN Number: 1880000164
Set in the 1960’s against the backdrop of the Vietnam War, Donnie, a Japanese American boy, grows tired of always playing the bad guy when playing war with his friends just because he "looked like them." His father and uncle served in the US Army, and Donnie must to prove this to his friends while his family discourages him from playing army. "Real heroes don't brag" is the message encouraged by his uncle. The underdog heroes are celebrated with honor and dignity without the bravado of today’s media messages. Also available in a Spanish version. Awards: Teachers’ Choice Award, Smithsonian Notable Children’s Book.
Resources-Links
Free Books
National Park Manzanar
Japanese Historical Society
Bancroft Library UC Berkeley
Google Lit Trips
Google Earth
Book Titles
Japanese Internment- Elementary Level
Blue Jay in the Desert Picture BookBy Marlene Shigekawa; illustrations by Isao Kikuchi
I Am an American: a True Story of Japanese Internment: (Ala Notable Children's Book, Horn Book Fanfare Honor Book) (American History Classics) Teacher Directed
by Jerry StanleyThe Children of Topaz: The Story of a Japanese-American Internment Camp Based on a Classroom Diary (Hardcover) Chapter Book
~ Michael O. Tunnell Michael O. Tunnell (Author) › Visit Amazon's Michael O. Tunnell PageFind all the books, read about the author, and more. See search results for this author Are you an author? Learn about Author Central (Author), George W. Chilcoat (Author) 3.3 out of 5 starsThe Bracelet Low End Chapter Book
by Uchida, Yoshiko
Home of the Brave Picture Book
By Allen Say
Passage to Freedom-The Sugihara Story Picture Book
by Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee||
Secret Asian Man
Review: Internment Books for Kids
Titles Sensitively Address Tough Themes of Discrimination and Friendship in Wartime
By Frances Kai-Hwa Wang, AAV Contributing EditorThe Bracelet / Flowers from Mariko / Baseball Saved Us / Heroes / Passage to Freedom: The Sugihara Story / So Far from the Sea / Farewell to Manzanar / The Children of Topaz / Blue Jay in the Desert
I did not mean to introduce my children to the history of Japanese Americans and the internment camps at so young an age. It was an accident. I was reading a book aloud to my children without previewing it myself first because I was on deadline and had to write a review of it that night. Don’t ever do this. Then I turned a page, and there was a picture of fair-haired American soldiers pointing rifles at a room full of people that looked like us. My children, only two and three years old at the time, were frightened and confused. Oops. Like I said, don’t ever do it this way.
On the positive side, since they were introduced to it at such a young age, they have always known about it. I never had to steel myself for "The Talk" to explain it to them. Given the choice, I am sure I would have put it off for as long as I could, maybe even forever. I certainly understand now why many of the Issei and Nisei who lived in the camps did not tell the Sansei and Yonsei generations—something I did not understand at all before I had children and had to explain it myself.
Luckily there are now many wonderful books to make this difficult story a little easier to explain. Some of these have been included in my earlier reviews of picture books about growing up Asian American, but some were fresh, recent discoveries for me approaching the February 19 Day of Remembrance. Two titles, by the wonderful JA author Ken Mochizuki, are not about internment, but nonetheless feature nikkei characters thoughtfully and movingly portrayed against a backdrop of war. All are worthy readings that sensitively broach tough but important themes of discrimination and friendship, war and courage, injustice and reconciliation. In this sense, all can be enriching and relevant for parents and kids of any background, in any era. -- Frances
The Bracelet
By Yoshiko Uchida, Illustrated by Joanna Yardley
Putnam & Grosset Group, New York, 1976, 1993, 1996
ISBN Number: 0-698-11390-X
Flowers from Mariko
By R. Noguchi & D. Jenks, Illustrated by M. Reiko Kumata
ISBN Number: 1584300329
Baseball Saved Us
By Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee
ISBN Number: 1880000199
Heroes
By Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee
ISBN Number: 1880000164
Passage to Freedom - The Sugihara Story
By Ken Mochizuki, Illustrated by Dom Lee
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